MANILA, Philippines - A Pulse Asia nationwide survey conducted last July 2 to 8 has revealed that 91% or nearly all Filipinos trust President Rodrigo Duterte as he begins his term.

Nearly all Filipinos trust President Rodrigo Duterte as he begins his term.PHOTO CREDIT: ABS-CBN News

The results of the survey released on Wednesday, July 20, showed that 91% of Filipinos trust the 71-year-old politician, 0.2% distrust him and 8% are undecided whether or not they trust or distrust him.

Former President Benigno Aquino III had a trust rating of 85% in a survey carried out in a similar period on his term. He used to hold the record of the highest level of public trust in Pulse Asia survey first held in 1999.

A sizeable majority or 62% of Filipinos trust Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo. The survey results showed 11% distrust her, while 27% cannot say if they trust or distrust Robredo.

Duterte earned 97%, his highest trust rating, in Mindanao among geographical locations. On the other hand, Robredo was highest among respondents from Visayas (72%).

Malacanang Palace Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement: “This expression of confidence, therefore, shall serve as an inspiration to the Duterte administration to continuously make a real difference and make our people’s lives better, safer, and healthier.”

The same survey also revealed that Filipinos want the new administration to prioritize controlling price increases (68%), creating employment opportunities (56%) and developing new poor programs (55%). Duterte administration’s top priority, reducing criminality, was mentioned by 48% of the respondents as an issue that needs to be addressed by the government in its first six months.

The July survey, which involved 1,200 representative adults, has a +/- 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level.